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Friday, February 19, 2016

AY: Hip Hop's Legend in #Tanzania

AY is arguably one of the most selling brand of Bongo Flava
Hip Hop, whose musical success has earned him a host of international shows.

Apart from winning several local and regional music
accolades and performing at two MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) festivals, the
flamboyant and charismatic artiste has also twice been nominated for Kora and
MAMA Awards.

AY, real name Ambwene Allen Yessaya, was born in Mtwara,
southern part of Tanzania, on July 5, 1981 and was dubbed by his fans as 'Mzee
wa Commercial', meaning a successful artist in the hip hop business.

His growth as an entertainer and a musician began way back
in

1996 while in high school; together with some friends they formed a group
called the CBM crew.

"We recorded our first album and released it in the
year 2000," says AY.

“Unfortunately, this album didn't do well and not many can
remember this album as it came at a time when Bongo Flava as a genre was
struggling to gain acceptance.”

Rise to fame

When CBM crew split up, AY went solo in 2001 and recorded
his first song titled 'Kila Siku' at Sound Crafters Studio in Dar es Salaam.
His effort culminated in the production of the album 'Raha Kamili' (Pure Joy)
two years later.

The first single 'Raha Tu' was a huge success as it topped
local charts both on radio and TV. This was also an introduction of the arrival
of a new kid on the bloc.

The second single 'Machoni Kama Watu' featuring Lady Jay D
was equally a success as it helped boost album sales.

At that time he also joined the rap group East Coast Team
and starred alongside other famous rappers Mohamed Khalid (TID), Gwamaka
Kaihula (Crazy GK) and Jay Moe in the most successful hip hop movie titled
'Girl Friend', a film about life and music that was directed by George Otieno
'Tyson'.

'Raha Kamili', was followed by a period of silence that many
actually thought he had descended into oblivion that had characterised the
careers of most new acts at the time.

In 2005 as his fans were still brooding over what had
happened, he dropped a second album, 'Hisia Zangu' (My Feelings) with the first
single 'Yule' topping charts in East Africa.

AY had gone for regional appeal in his music as it featured
many collaborations with some of the region's best.

"In that album I collaborated with East African
artistes like Prezzo,Tattuu and Deux Vultures from Kenya and Ugandan R&B
crooner Maurice Kirya," he says.

The second single 'Binadamu' (Human Being) turned out to be
a huge hit in East Africa and was nominated for a Kora Awards in 2005, making
AY the first Tanzanian male artiste to be nominated for the award.

His other tracks 'Kutoka kwa AY', 'Mademu Wote',
'Usinijaribu' and 'Nipe Nikupe' have also been on regular TV and Radio
rotation.

International Appeal

AY's popularity soared in East Africa and as he established
himself as a top artiste in the region. In 2006 he sealed an endorsement deal
with 'Konyagi' one of the top selling liquors in Tanzania.

The endorsement deal opened more doors in the corporate
world as commercials from different companies like Coca-Cola, Vodacom, Celtel
(Now Zain) and Kilimanjaro Premium Lager started to flow in including regional
ones like the Uganda Waragi deal.

AY himself has also helped fellow musicians secure
commercials. He has assisted Marlaw, the singer of ‘Pii Pii’ and Mr Blue of
“Tabasam” voice commercials for Zain Tanzania and Vodacom respectively.

“I help others get deals. Mr Blue and Marlaw are the latest
that I’ve given deals; but it goes beyond commercials, “said the singer, who is
also involved in preparing commercials.

More albums and collaborations from the likes of Uganda's
Chameleon and Ngoni, and Kenya's Amani, Nameless, Juacali and Sauti Sol were to
follow.

He also received a seal of approval from great artistes like
Akon, who has repeatedly acknowledged AY's music and is particularly impressed
by his style and sees him as the next rap artiste from Africa to make it
internationally.

His appeal too has earned him jigs in Rwanda, Burundi,
United Arab Emirates, South Africa, United States of America, Ethiopia, the
United Kingdom and Malaysia.

The biggest jig came in December 2008, at the launch of his
third album, 'Habari Ndio Hiyo' where American artistes Fat Joe, Eve and Shaggy
were invited for a performance at the Gymkhana grounds under the auspices of
the Tanzania Cigarette Company.

His hit 'Leo' that was produced by Hermy B at the B.Hitz
Studios in the city earned him the MTV nomination.

Entrepreneurial Mind

AY is among the few Tanzanian Hip Hop artists who have invested in various businesses. Apart from various clothing stores in Dar-es-Salaam also the owns of Mikasi show, a famous Swahili television show on DStv.

He leads Unity Entertainment as the CEO, where he oversees all the operations of his company.

Awards & Nominations

AY is not a stranger to the big stage, having been nominated
for MAMA awards in the Best Hip Hop category.

However, his first nomination came in 2005, in the Best Male
Artiste East and Central Africa category at the Kora Awards for the single
'Binadamu'.

This was followed in 2007 with the Kilimanjaro Music Award
for Best Hip Hop single and Kisima Music Award in Kenya for Best Music Video -Tanzania. He was honoured with the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Best Hip Hop
single award in the same year.

The same feat was repeated in 2008 where he received a
Kilimanjaro Music Award for Best Collaboration and a PAM award for Best Male
Artiste -Tanzania.